The History Of Lagavulin

People and places don't just shape a Single Malt Scotch Whisky's flavour. They change the course of its future. Get a taste of how the whisky you love today came to be, with this brief Lagavulin timeline.

1742

1742

Lagavulin is said to be one of the oldest distilleries on Islay, consisting originally of 10 small illicit distilleries.

1816

1816

Local farmer and distiller John Johnston converts the buildings into a legal distillery and names it Lagavulin, the first legal operation in the area.

1817

1817

A second distillery appeared, known as Malt Mill, run by one Archibald Campbell. It is later subsumed by Lagavulin.

1836

1836

1861

The lease for Lagavulin Distillery and farm changes hands, falling under the control of James L Mackie & Co, the company formed by James Mackie in partnership with the surviving member of the Graham family, Captain Graham.

1878

1878

J. L. Mackie brings his nephew Peter J. Mackie into the business and Peter makes the first of many trips to Lagavulin to learn the secrets of distilling.

1887

1887

James Logan Mackie & Co succeed Graham & Co.

1890

1890

Peter succeeds as senior partner, and it is under his guidance that Lagavulin will become a household name. Mackie is better known to colleagues and staff as “Restless Pete”, said to live by the maxim ‘Nothing is Impossible’. The name of the firm changes to Mackie & Co.

1908

1908

Mackie decides to restore two buildings on site, believed to be former still house and store, to their former use, under the name of Malt Mill.